Reproducing instrument and associated mechanism



F. A. HOSCHKE.

REPRODUCING INSTRUMENT AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1918. 1,373,732. Patented Apr. 5,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

FLA. HOSCHKE. v REPRODUCING INSTRUMENT AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1918. 1,373,782. Patented Apr; 5, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

14 I 9 v &%M

W'TNESFqv 3L fad, z BY rM A TTORNEYS.

.UN'ITTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REPRODUCING INSTRUMENT AND ASSOCIATED IMECHAN ISM.

Application filed May 10, 1918.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. Hosanna, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Tm provements in Reproducing Instruments and Associated Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for starting various mechanisms, such as are adapted to operate during the operation of a reproducing instrument, simultaneously with the commencement of reproduction from the instrument. While the invention is capable of general application, it finds one advantageous use as a means for setting in motion various mechanisms, as an automatic piano or the like, for example, immediately as an instrument, )articularly a phonograph, begins to reproduce sounds.

An illustrative example of one of the many uses, to which the invention may be put, is in the control of the motor of a player piano so that the music produced thereby will be made to begin simultaneously with the music produced by a phonograph. The problem of synchronizing the talking machine with the automatic piano has been attempted heretofore, as evidenced by the prior art. Eiiort has, however, been largely directed to regulating the speed oi the one instrument relatively to the other so that the two will operate synchronously. For example, many devices have been proposed, whereby the speed of the driving roll for the record sheet of the player piano is made to travel at a speed proportioned to that of the record-carrying table of the talk ing machine. Satisfactory and harmonious operation of two separately-operable musical instruments cannot, however, be achieved unless the music from both is made to commence simultaneously. Heretofore, as I am aware, the record-sheet driving-roll of the piano and the record-carrying turntable of the phonograph have been caused to start simultaneously, but the simultaneous starting of such roll and turntable does not necessarily result in simultaneous starting of the music from the two instruments. t is well known that in the ordinary phonograph the stylus rides idly in the groove of the record for varying and appreciable distances. For example, several revolutions of the record are frequently necessary be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Serial No. 233,719.

fore the stylus is actuated to produce sounds. It will be obvious, then, that the desired results cannot be obtained by merely starting the two record-driving elements of the two instruments simultaneously.

This invention has for its broad object to provide a means, whereby a separately-operable mechanism, such as an automatic piano, for example, may be controlled from a reproducing instrument, as a phonograph, so that the mechanism may be started simultaneously with the production of sound from the phonograph irrespective of the time of starting of the phonograph recordpropelling means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a reproducing instrument, such as a phonograph, for example, means which may be accurately set to various predetermined positions corresponding to the varying lengths of the idle or non-reproducing parts of records and which may be moved during the preliminary motion of the record so as to come into position to start, or permit starting, of a separately-operable mechanism at the same time that the reproducing part of the record comes into play.

A further object 01" the invention is to provide in combination with a player piano and a phonograph, a device associated with the latter and effective to disconnect the record-propelling motor of the piano from its source of supply during the preliminary motion of the phonograph record, said device being operable to connect the motor to its source after the phonograph record has traveled a predetermined distance, the arrangement being such that the record sheet of the piano may be set in position to immediately cause reproduction on the start ing of its motor, and said device may be set to start the motor after the phonograph record has completed its idle and non-reproducing movement.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed in an illus trative embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagrammatical view of a reproducing instrument and a separatelyoperable mechanism controlled thereby in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away, of a phonograph showing the controlling device as applied to; and V Fig. 3is a partial crosssectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to these drawings in detail, A indicates generally the reproducing instru ment, which in this instance is a phonegraph, and B represents generally a separately-operable mechanism, which, as an illustrative example, may be considered as a player piano, although, obviously, various other mechanisms may be substituted, as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The phonograph A and player piano B, being both well understood in the art, the present illustration has been confined largely to a diagrammatical representation of such parts of the two instruments as are necessary to an understanding of the present invention. It is to be understood that each of the instruments A and B may be of any suitable or desirable form, and the types shown are merely illustrative of one suitable form of each instrument with which the invention may be used.

The essential parts of the phonograph A which need to be considered are the turntable or record carrier at; the turntable driving shaft 6, which is driven by the usual motor (not shown) the record 0; the swingingly-mounted tone-arm (Z; and the repro ducer c, which is carried by the tone-arm and provided with a suitable stylus (not shown). All the-elements enumerated are now too well known to require further description herein.

The essential elements of the player piano B will next be briefly described. The music sheet or record f is carried by the usual, rolls 9 and and travels over a suitable trackerbar 2 The music sheet propelling means comprises amotor j of any suitable type and the usual driving connections between the motor 7' and the rolls 9 and 71, which connections are shown in conventional form only and are indicatedgenerally by reference letter Zn Connections are arranged in the usual manner so that either roll a and k may be driven, the former being driven to wind the sheet f thereon during the pro duction of music and the latter being capable of rewincling the sheet, all in now wellunderstood manner. The motor as illus trated, is oi a known type operable by atmospheric pressure which is made effective for this purpose by creating a partial vacuum in the motor. A suitable pipe Z is adapted to be connected to a suitable suction means to cause operation of motor 70.

According to the invention, however, the pipe Z is not connected directly to the suction means but leads-to a chamber 5 in 'a casing 6. Adjacent chamber 5 is a second chamber 7 andthe two chambers may communicate by an opening 8. From chamber there 7 a pipe 9 leads to a suitable suction means (not shown). Communication between chambers 5 and 7 is controlled by a valve 10 which is slidably mounted in casing 6 and is connected to a b llows 11 for actuation in a manner to appear. The degree of opening of valve 10 is limited by the engagement of a butler-block 12 on valve 10 with the casing 6. The latter, it is to be understood, is entirely closed so that chambers 5 and 7 and opening 8 may form substantially air-tight connections between the pipes Z and 9.

The bellows 11 is part or a socalled pneumatic and isconstantly in communi cation with a chamber 14. Adjacent the latter is a chamber 15 from which a pipe 16 leads to a suitable suction means (not shown), whereby a partial vacuum may constantly exist in chamber 15. An opening 1. permits communication between chambers 14- and 15 when a valve 18 is open, whereby the air in bellows 11 may be exhausted through pipe 16. The exhaustion of the air in the bellows will collapse the latter and thereby move valve 10 to close the opening 8. Thus, the motor will be cut oil from communication with its suction means and cannot operate to move the music sheet f. Adjacent the chamber 15 is a chamber 20 from which a flexible pipe 21 leads to the phonograph A for association with a con trolling device later to be described. The partition between chambers 15 and 20 includes a movable diaphragm 22 which is suitably'located to actuate the described valve 18, will appear. A relatively small opening or bleed hole permits co although restricted communication bet can the chambers 15 and 20. The chambersll, 15, and 20 are entirely inclosed, should be well understood. That. end of pipe 21 associated with the phonograph A may, as will appear. be opened or closed to the atmosphere. lVhen closed. chamber 20 is exhausted through bleed hole 23, and the movable wall 22 is held in'its normal position to seat valve 18. When opened, atmospheric air enters chamber 20 and forces the movable wall 22 upwardly to engage and lift the valve 18, whereby communication may be established between the chambers 14- and 15 and bellows 11 may be collapsed. Further description of the pneumatic for operating the valve 10 is thought unnecessary, as such devices are well understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and it will. be seen that the described flexible pipe 21 leads to and has its end secured to a frame 25 which is suitably fixed in the phonograph A. The frame 25 carries an upstanding stud 26 which is arranged parallel with and closely adjacent to the driving shaft Z; for the turntable (4,. Loosely mounted on stud 26 is a sleeve 27 and adjustably secured to the later is an arm 28 which carries a valve 29 adapted to engage and close the end of the flexible pipe 21. Also adjustably secured to sleeve 27 and below arm 28 is a lever 30 by means of which valve 29 may be swung away from pipe 21 to various positions. Lever 30 is adapted for manual actuation in one direction to open the end of pipe 21 and has its free end offset, as shown in Fig. 3, to lie in the path of a pin 31 which is secured in upstanding relation to a horizontalrod The latter is slidably mounted on the phonograph casing and has a part extending through the latter which is provided with a button 33 for convenient actuation. Passing transversely through rod 32 is a pin 3%, and the ends of the latter are arranged to ride on two spaced pads 35 of suitable material, such as felt, to prevent turning of rod 32. A spring 36 is coiled around rod 32 and is interposed between )in and the casing of phonograph A to normally hold the rod in. the illustrated position, wherein button 33 engages a part of the casing and limits the inward movement of rod" 32. The outward movement of the latter is limited by the engagement of pin 34: with an upstanding pin 37 fixed inthe casing of phonograph A.

The arm 28 is movable in the other direction to close the end of'pipe 21 by means controlled by the movement of the record 0 of the pronograph A. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such means consist of a gear 39 fixed to the described sleeve 27 below the lever 30, and a pin 40 secured to and depending from the flange of turntable (6, as shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement is such that pin 40 may engage gear 39 once during each revolution of turntable a and move the gear one step. Gear 39 has one tooth cut away leaving a space il, which when positioned as in Fig. 2, permits pin L0 to freely pass without'actuating the gear. Thus, when valve 29 is in the illustrated position, wherein the end of pipe 21 is closed to the atmosphere. the space &1 is so positioned as to permit free revolution of the turntable a without further ac ination of gear 39.

its already described, rod 32 is adapted for manual actuation to swing valve 29m various predetermined positions. Gear 39 is thus moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in 2, which brings teeth of the near into position to be engaged by pin 40. @bviously, the gear 39 must be moved by definite increments in order that it be so positioned that pin 40 will properly mesh with the gear. To permit accuratev setting of the gear, a pointer 42 is pivoted at 43 to the casof phonograph A, and at one end has'a to engage the described pin 31 t..e slidable rod 32." The other end of the closed position. I

pointer plays over a graduated scale, which in this instance comprises an arcuate row of spaced pins 44-. hen pointer 42 is swung to the left to the next pin 4L4, ear 39 will be set for proper engagement by pin Q0 and will be moved thereby into the illustrated position after the turntable a has completed one revolution. The pins thus indicate the number of revolutions of the turntable a necessary to move valve 29 into The turntable a is provided with a suitable marl; 45 to cooperate with a mark 46 on the casing of phonograph A so that the operator may accurately set the turntable to a. predetermined position, wherein it is assured that the pin -10 will lie in the illustrated position. The record 0 may have a mark l? thereon which, when alined with the mark es, assures a. definite predetermined positioning of the record on the turn table.

In using the apparatus described, the number of idle turns in the sound groove of record 0 is first determined, either by actual trial or from appropriate markings on the record itself indicating the number of such turns. Obviously, the apparatus may be designed so that the valve 29 may be moved into position to close pipe 21 after any desired number of revolutions of turntable mend I do not intend to limit myself to any particular number of such revolutions. Furthermorml have shown an arrangement, whereby the valve 29 is moved one stepon each complete revolution of the turntable, for, as a practical matter, I have found that fractional parts of idle convolutions of the sound groove of the record do not appreciably affect the accuracy of the apparatus. It is, however, obvious that the apparatus may readily be arranged for as accurate a setting as desired, and simply because I have shown, as an illustrative ex ample, an arrangement whereby gear 39 is moved one step on each rotation of turntable a, I do not intend to limit myself to such arrangement.

hloreover. in order to care for fractional parts of idle convolutions of the sound groove withthe illustrated form of the apparatus. I may provi lo, instead of the single graduation 1-5 on the table a, a series of graduations, as 45, 45 and an one of which may be set to register with the mark 46. Thus, for example, if the record has a fractional idle convolution, as three quarters of a convolution, for example, the graduation t may be set to register with mark 16 instead of graduation 45, as formerly. By so doing, the pin 40 will be advanced a quarter of a revolution in a clock wise direction (Fig. 2) so that it will engage and actuate the gear 39 after the tableahas turned three quarters of a revolution. Simiterclockwise direction.

larly, the graduations 4:5 and 4:5 when set to the mark 4:6 will permit the gear to be actuated after a quarter and a half revolu tion, respectively, of the carrier at. 'The mark 47 on the record is, however, always set opposite the mark 46;

- In operation, the operator sets the music sheet 7 with relation to the tracker-bar 2" so that, immediately on operation of motor j, the piano will commence its production of music. The operator sets therecord c and turntable a so that the marks 47 and 45, re spectively, thereon aline with the mark 46. Knowing the number of idle convolutions of the sound groove of record 0, say three, for example, the operator pulls rod 32 outwardly until pointer 3:2 comes to the desired pin 44:, as the fourth pin to the left in Fig. 2. Immediately the operator releases rod 32, the latter is moved back into the illustrated position by spring '36.. without, however, moving the lever 30. Thus, gear 39 has been moved a definite angular distance in a clockwise direction which is known to be such that a definite number of rotations of the turntable a in a clockwise direction will be necessary to returnthe gear into the illustrated' position, whereinvalve 29 closes the end of pipe 21. The operator then places the stylus in the first'convolution: of the sound groove of record 0 and starts the phonograph motor in the usual manner, whereupon, on each revolution of turntable a, gear 39 will be moved one step in a coun has made the predetermined number of revolutions, the space '11 comes into the illus-' trated position so that gear 39 will no longer be actuated and arm 28 has swung valve 29 into position to close the end of pipe 21. The closing of the latter will, as hasbeen seen, permit the bellows 11, which heretofore hasbeen collapsed to hold valve 10in closed position, to move into the illustrated position and open valve 10,'thereby allowing motor 7' to start and music sheet to be moved over the tracker-bar Thus, immedlately as the sound reproductlons are commenced by the phonograph,the accompanying'music is started by the player piano. Thus, I have provided an apparatus whereby a separately-operable mechanism may be so controlled from a reproducing instrument that the mechanism may be started simultaneously with the commencement of reproductions by the instrument, irrespective of thetime of starting the record-carrying element of said instrument. It is recognized that various changes, substitutions and modifications may be made in the'one embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, and, inasmuch as I do not intend to restrict the Scope of my invention except as necessitated by the prior art, the scope of the invention is to-be defined When turntable a by the appended claims rather than by the foregoin description.

l/Vhat T claim is 1. In combination, a record propelling means, reproducing mechanism, indicating means permitting the record to be set relativelyto the reproducing means 'so that re productions commence after the record has been moved a predetermined distance, a second mechanism, and means independent of the first mechanismand its'record for starting the second mechanism simultaneously with the reproductions of the first mechanism and after the first-named means has moved the record said distance.

2. The combination in a phonograph. with the rotatable record carrier thereof, of a controlling device adapted for connection ling'means for each, and means controlled by one of said means to preventstarting of the other means untll the first means has moved its record a predetermined d1stance.

4. In combination, an automatic piano, a

record-propelling motor therefor, connections between said motor and a source of supply for its actuating medium, a phonograph including its record-propelling means,

means manually movable to various pos1-.

tions in eacl 1 ofwhieh said motor is "cut off from 1ts supply, said means being automatically -movable with said propelling means to connect the motor with its supply .after the record-propelling means has been moved a predetermined distance.

5. The comb1nat1on in a sound-reproduclng machine with its record-propelling means, of a device adapted for controlling the operation of a separate mechanism, said device including cooperating and relatively movable parts which when in one predetermined position are adapted to cause the starting of said separate mechanism, manually-operable means to move one of said parts to various other positions in each of which the controlling device is ineffective to start said separate mechanism, and automatic means to move said parts the one relativelyfito the other into said predetermined position during the movement of said propelling means, whereby said separate mechanism .may be started after a predetions, and automaticmeans operable during the movement of the first-named means to move the valve until it is engaged with its seat, all constructed and arranged so that the valve may be seated at a predetermined time after the starting of said propelling FREDERICK A. HOSCHKE. 

